Ty is one

Ty's first birthday kind of snuck up on me last month. I can't believe he's one! We had a small party with some family. He got a few presents that he has enjoyed playing with. He has been walking since 11 months and is working on the stairs. He is able to up and down them but sometimes decides he's tired of going down backwards. So he turns around and tries to go down them like one of us. It's scary but he is learning and hopefully by the end of the summer I won't have to worry quite so much. He loves following Lucas around and get's upset when someone leaves the house without him. He loves playing outside, playing in the toilet, throwing whatever he finds into my tub, and getting into the cupboards with all the poisonous things. He is so fun and we love him.
His birthday made me think of the last two years and how LUCKY I feel to have him in our home. I really do consider both our children miracles. I am so grateful for him and for the way he smiles!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

I had an opportunity Wednesday night to go volunteer at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I was able to be an usher and I was on the third floor outside of the beautiful sealing rooms. It was so peaceful, and I felt so blessed to stand there as groups were brought through to look at the temple. We took Lucas and Ty to the Draper open house but I can't wait to take our family to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. Lucas has watched the temple being built and I remember the day he said, "Mom, the angel Moroni is up." I hope he remembers the experience of watching the temple being built, and then going inside to see it.

I also felt the power of prayer through this experience. I had been sick with a horrible cough and as Wednesday grew closer I just knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill my assignment. I felt Bryan's love for me as he prayed for me to get well enough to go. Tuesday night I didn't know how I would do it because I still felt so sick. Wednesday came and although I still coughed a little the difference was amazing. I'm grateful for temples, prayer, and our Heavenly Father's love. Many of you have just gone through the Draper open house, but if you get a chance come visit the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It's a great opportunity to have these temple so close to us. In fact, there are three temples in viewing distance from my home (South Jordan, Draper, Oquirrh Mountain) and I'm within an hour of eight temples! (Provo, Timpanogos, Draper, South Jordan, Oquirrh Mountain, Salt Lake, Bountiful, and Ogden). Okay, so Ogden may be pushing it but you get the idea.

Thank Goodness for Small Miracles

I don't have a lot of jewelry but I do have some and most of what I have is sentimental to me in one way or the other. Several years ago Bryan surprised me with blue diamond earrings for Mother's Day. They are special for several reasons. One, they are blue diamonds and blue is my favorite color. Two, I love the earrings themselves. Three, the day after Bryan gave them to me he was let go from his job. So they remind me that things can be going along just fine but that you better be prepared because you never know when a trial will come. (I don't know why they remind me of that but they do.) Four, they remind me of the sacrifices Bryan makes to surprise me sometimes. And five, they are the most expensive pair or earrings that I own!
Saturday night we decided to go get something to eat. I get ready, open my jewelry box, and decide to wear my blue diamonds. Instead of putting them on in my room I grab them and head out the door. I have Ty, in his car seat and manage to put one in. But it's too hard so I lay the other earring on top of the car thinking, 'I'll grab it as soon as I get Ty in the car.' Did you guess? I forget the earring and we go to eat. Later that night I realize I only have one earring in. I'm heartbroken. I look in the garage hoping it is on the floor but don't see it. How could I have been so careless and forgetful? So Sunday goes by and every once in a while I go out and look in the garage, on the driveway, and in the street. I don't see it anywhere. I pray. I know it's not an important thing to Heavenly Father but I explain how much they mean to me and that I'd really like to find it if possible. Monday morning I'm leaving with Ty. As I walk out to the garage I think, 'Someday I'm just going to look down and there it will be." As I'm walking by I glance down under the Prelude and see something. I back up. There it is, and it's perfectly fine. Now, I don't know why I didn't see it before, it wasn't too far under the car. But I'm grateful that I found it. Even though it's a silly earring it means a lot to me. My new rule is, earrings go in the ears BEFORE I leave the bedroom.

Future Star Wars Fan

Ty already loves lightsabers. It was bound to happen since we have a mere dozen in our home. In fact, Ty got his first lightsaber for Christmas this year from Santa. He knows if the blade is down and will bring it to me so that I can fix it for him.

The other day Lucas and him started "fighting" with their lightsabers. It surprised us because we didn't realize that Ty had already figured out what they were for! The sad thing is that I totally encourage this Star Wars fasination. We already have some Star Wars toys for Ty for Christmas. They are called Galactic Heros but we call them squatty guys. So Ty will be getting his very own selection of squatty guys starting in December. Lucas has a ton already, along with normal Star Wars action figures and other superhero toys. Boys are fun!

Our Week in Idaho

Last week Lucas was off track and so we decided to go to Idaho to visit our families. The boys had lots of fun. Grandpa Jeppsen let us take turns driving his clod buster--radio controlled truck. Lucas especially loved it. They also jumped on the trampoline and swung in the swings. It was Ty's first time in a swing and he loved it. Friday night we had pizza and watched "The Tale of Despero".

At Grandma and Grandpa Garner's home Lucas loved playing with Uncle David. He was so happy that Uncle David has an X-Box 360. Lucas also enjoyed playing basketball in the driveway. We really do need a trampoline or a basketball hoop!
Our last full day in Idaho Grandpa Garner made Lucas a new club. Lucas wanted something that could hit the ball far and so Grandpa found an old driver and cut it down for him. The best gift was a BYU golf cover for Lucas' new driver. Lucas loves it!

Bryan and I didn't do much but rest, read, and rest some more. I did get to go out to lunch with my mom, Stephanie, Denise, and Jennilynn. It was fun to be with them and catch up on all the latest news. I miss our families and it's always nice to be around everyone and take it easy before coming back to real life.

This is a video of Ty walking. He still falls sometimes, but usually only when he is tired of walking. Lucas gets a great kick out of it, as you will see.

Lucas and Ty

At night before Lucas goes to sleep he likes to play with a few of his toys in his bed. The problem with this is that he started staying up way too late. We knew we had to do something to help him go to sleep at night before 9:30. He has an egg timer that we use to help him get ready for bed quickly and we decided to use it to remind him it was time to sleep. So I started setting it for 15 minutes, telling him to lay down when it dinged and go to sleep. The first few nights went great. Then we noticed that it was taking longer then it should to ding. "It's broken." Bryan and I decided. We tested it and it did seem to be a little slow but not too bad. Then the next night I was on the computer and Lucas came to the top of the stairs. He wanted to tell me something but didn't want Bryan to hear him. I told him to tell me anyway, Bryan was in the family room, that his dad could hear what he needed to say. He wouldn't tell me. Later I went up to tuck him in and he told me, "Mom the timer isn't broken. I just wanted more time to play so I kept setting it back." I wanted to laugh but instead I just listened to him and then told him from now on we'll set the timer and then I'll take it with me. He confessed to Bryan the next day. Bryan and I have had a good laugh but we haven't let Lucas know how funny he is.
Ty has so much hair. People keep coming up to me just to say, "Wow, he has a lot of hair!". He is so cute and it always makes Bryan and I sad that our mothers are missing these fun times with him. He changes so fast. He is such a happy and good baby!